Fabric spreader



April 1945- J. ZEGARELL I I 2,374,319 FABRIC SPREADER Filed April 25,1942 Patented Apr. 24, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FABRIC. SPREADERv Joseph Zegarelli, Utica, N. Y. Application April 25, 1942, Serial No.440,565

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a fabric spreader and I declare the following tobe a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof .sufiicient toenable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which likereference characters refer to like parts throughout the specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for spreading a boltof fabric on a long table in such manner that the like surfaces of thefabric will come together when the fabric is spread on the table priorto cutting garments therefrom. More particularly it is desirable to havethe nap surface of the fabric laid against the-nap surface when thefabric is spread on the table prior to cutting the fabric into garments.

The device will be found particularly useful in spreading a bolt ofkhaki fabric on a table approximately twenty-five yards long prior tocutting the same into army clothing;

The object will be understood by referring to the drawing in which Fig.1 is a perspective view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a rotary bolt' carrier and immediatemembers, parts being shown in sections.

Fig. .3 is a detail enlarged view of a perspective of a V-shaped memberemployed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a

carrier frame I made preferably of a hollow pipe is supported to move oncastors 2, 2 and 3, 3. Castors 2, 2 are not swiveled but straight,whereas castors 3, 3 are swiveled. This combination will allow the frameto be pushed more easily across the room in a straight direction.

Casters 2, 2 and 3, 3 are rigidly attached to the lower ends ofstandards 4, 4 and 5, 5 which are supported near the lower ends by crosspipe 6, 6. Wooden cross guide bars l0, l disposed about half way upstandards 4, 4 and 5, and fastened to the said standards by bolts I I,also tend to lend rigidity to standards 4, 4 and 5, 5. Each of the crossbars I0 is beveled at its opposite ends as at l5. whereby to allow theframe an easy approach and to glide along parallel to the upper sideboards of the table 16 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The end standards are held in adjusted relation to each other, wherebyto accommodate the frame as a whole to tables of different widths bysleeved cross rods. More particularly the end cross rods are mounted tothe upper ends of standards 4, 4 and 5. 5 respectively by fittings 14.

Each of the end cross rods comprise a hollow tube 20 and rod 2| whichslides into tube 20 a suitable distance and is held by a set bolt 22near the middle.

The middle cross bar embodies rods 25, 25 that are held in each instanceto the upper cross bar 26 of the end frame by a fitting 21. The oppositeend of each of the rods 25 projects into the hollow portions of themiddle or central bar 3!] and have a sliding fit therein. Set bolts 3|,3| are employed to hold rods 25 in predetermined relation to the centralbar 30.' The hollow open ends of central bar 30 are suificiently long topermit of considerable adjustment between central bar 30 and rods 25,25. I

The central part of bar 30 is solid, a sleeve is mounted on central bar30 at the middle thereof. Sleeve 35 has a depending part 36 with athreaded aperture 31. There is also an upstanding part 38 with anaperture that aligns with aperture 31, although not threaded. Furthermore, the upstanding part 38 has an enlarged bearing surface 39.

A complementary part 40 is made on depending portion 4l of sleeve 42.Sleeve 42 is mounted at the middle part of rod 43 which part is solid.

' A bolt44 screw threaded at its lower end into the threaded dependingpart 36 of sleeve 35 projects up through depending part 4| of sleeve 42and into rod 43 in such manner that sleeve 42 and rod 43 can rotatethereon. Lock nuts 45 hold bolt 44 in place.

Rod 43 is hollow for a portion of its length at both ends for thesliding fit of the adjustable rods 50, which are held in predeterminedrelation to rod 43 by set bolts 5|, 5|. Each of the adjustable rods 50,50 is bent at right angles at 52, 52 to provide uprights having V-shapedopen member 53.

Members 53 are adapted to support rod 55 which is projected through thecenter of the bolt of cloth or fabric 56.

Runways are made in V-shaped members 53 for the insertion ofanti-friction balls 51 to aid in lessening the friction between rod 55and the surface of members 53. Moreover, the open V-shaped members 53will allow for rods of different diametrical dimensions. End closingmembers 54 that are bolted or otherwise secured to the ends of V-shapedmembers to retain balls 5'! in runways 60.

U-shaped locking members 6|, 6| are pivoted to upright standards 62, 62for lockin rods 50, 59 and contiguous parts from turning on pivot bolt44. Handle members 63 are formed at right angles to locking members 6|,6|. Uprights B2,

2 62 are anchored in fittings 21, 2I. -A short stud 64 projectshorizontally from each upright 62 to provide a rest for holding member6| in horizontal locking position. Studs 64 are mounted to uprights 62just beyond the pivoted mounting of members 6|.

In operation, the frame I ismoved in position to straddle the table I6and if necessary it can be adjusted as to accommodate the width of thetable I6 by resetting bolts 22, 3I and 5|, 5|.

Rod 55 is inserted through the bolt of fabric 56 and then disposed withits free ends resting in V-shaped members 53, 53. The free end of fabric56 is partially unrolled manually and brought down under sleeved crossrods 20, 2| and laid on table I6.

Each of the two operators then use one hand at successive intervals tohold the fabric 56 on table I6 and with the other hand simultaneouslypushes frame I lengthwise of table I6. Bolt 56 will unwind as itmovealongv table I6 to lay the fabric 56 on the table I6 with napside-uppermost. When the frame reaches the opposite end of table I6, thefabric is cut transversely. The frame is moved then back to originalposition without unwinding fabric I6. When it reaches the startingposition, members 6|, iii are swun upwards, and the bolt of fabric 56rotated through an angle 'of 180, whereby ,to bring the opposite side ofthe bolt 56 toface forward and the fabric 56 in position to unwind fromthe top of the bolt 56 rather than the bottom as in the first place.Members 6|, 6| are then lowered to lock rods 43, 43 in position toprevent the bolt 56 from turning, whereupon the 1 frame is again pushedforward, laying the. nap of the fabric 56 face down on the'upturned napof the first layer of fabric.

The above movements of frame I are repeated and the bolt of fabric 56isturnedeach time until the bolt of fabric 56 is completely unwound andlaid on the upper surface (of table, I6.

It will be observed thattheframe I being independent of the table I6will prevent any of the parts of said frame Ifrom interfering with theupper surface of the tabledfiand the-laying of the fabric 56.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a fabric spreader a frame having standards supported on rollers,bars attached to said standards for guiding said standards along atable, said frame having rods projecting into a hollow central bar, setbolts for holding said central bar in given relation to said rods, asleeve mounted on said central bar forming a bearing for another sleevemounted to turn relative thereto, said last named sleeve supporting arod having hollow portions, adjustable rods mounted in thehollowrportions of said last named rod and having open V-shaped membersfor supporting a rod carrying a bolt of fabric and U-shaped membersmounted .on said frame and engaging the rods having open V-shapedmembers, whereby to hold them in predetermined position.

2. In a fabric spreader a frame mounted on castors, bars attached tosaid frame to guide the movements thereof, rods carried by said frameand engaging a central hollow bar, a sleeve -mounted on said hollow barforming a bearing, another sleeve mounted thereabove and adapted to turnrelative thereto, a rod carried by said last named sleeve having hollowportions, other rods bent at right angles and having open V- shapedmembers adjustably held to said last named rod, said V-shaped membershaving antifriction balls mounted therein, a rod carrying a bolt offabric mounted in said V-shaped members, upright standards mounted tosaid frame having U-shaped members pivoted thereto for engaging the rodsbent at right angles to hold the same in predetermined position.

named rod and having open V-shaped members for supporting a rod carryinga bolt of fabric and means mounted on said frame and engaging the rodshaving open V-shaped members, whereby to hold said rods in predeterminedposition.

- JOSEPH ZEGARELLI.

